The Los Angeles Chargers were still heavily criticized on Sunday in Week 13 in Foxborough, Mass. Not because of their rather uninspiring 6-0 win over the now 2-10 New England Patriots, but for a notable 2023 NFL Draft gaffe that they’re getting reminded of.
Los Angeles Chargers Ripped for Drafting Struggling Quentin Johnston
This graphic went up during the Chargers-Pats contest — which is now a reminder of who the Chargers opted to steer away from to draft Quentin Johnston.
#Packers rookie Jayden Reed is now showing up on TV graphics such as this one highlighting the wideouts the #Chargers could have taken instead of Quentin Johnston. pic.twitter.com/0sVUr16TzW
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) December 3, 2023
Johnston was the second wide receiver taken in April’s draft behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went No. 20 to the Seattle Seahawks, but Johnston has continued to struggle to find any kind of footing in the Chargers’ offense.
Johnston botched this long third-down attempt that would’ve given the Bolts the first down had he not dropped this wide-open attempt.
Quentin Johnston drops a perfect throw from Justin Herbert. Brutal pic.twitter.com/8BCYwwSa3e
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) December 3, 2023
He even noticeably stopped his feet on this catch and allowed defenders to jump on top of him.
Quentin Johnston putting defenders on his back⚡️😂 pic.twitter.com/q361I1m7xE
— Chargers Country (@ChargersCountry) December 3, 2023
Johnston may have caught five passes to tie for the team lead alongside veteran Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, but he’s had a rough start in his rookie season — catching just 26 passes for 242 yards and averaging just 9.3 yards per catch. And he has just one touchdown.
Meanwhile, fans are reminding the Bolts what a blunder they made in taking him.
Fans Remind Chargers of Rookies Outperforming Johnston
Fans roasted the Chargers for choosing Johnston over two notable star rookies from the same class.
“I’m still dying over the fact that chargers took Quentin Johnston over Zay [Flowers] or [Jordan] Addison,” a fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
That would be the Baltimore Ravens’ selection at No. 22, Flowers, and the Minnesota Vikings’ 24th overall pick, Addison. Flowers has reeled in more catches (58), tallied more yards (613), and has one more touchdown than Johnston.
Addison has 54 receptions for 686 yards and has seven touchdowns — tied for the rookie lead alongside Tank Dell of the Houston Texans, a third-round rookie selection.
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One other fan said Johnston “might be the worst WR I’ve ever seen” on X. Another fan warned how Johnston had issues with drops while at TCU and how it’s carried over to the league. One more fan believed Flowers, not Johnston, would’ve made a much larger difference in the offense.
Worse for Johnston, every rookie WR listed here has more receiving yards than Johnston. And that includes one fifth-rounder in the same city outperforming him, Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams, who is now over the 1,000-yard mark with five games left.
Have Fans Given Up on Johnston?
Fans are ripping Johnston. One account, however, is avoiding giving up on the Horned Frog.
This same account mentioned how Mike Williams had early struggles before becoming a savvy veteran for the Bolts.
“Quentin Johnston got more TD’s than Mike Williams & Melvin Gordon combined in their rookie season. Basically all these guys are that level of good from a Chargers standpoint. You know almost every first rounder has had an issue with something. Relax,” the account pleaded.
One other fan believes that Johnston “is going to be fine.” Another stated how he’s more concerned about Johnston’s “lack of separation” on his routes than his drops.
To Johnston’s credit, his 58 yards is now a personal best for him this season. He also tied his previous best of five catches versus the Chicago Bears.
Still, Johnston’s production is nowhere near the level of the late-round receiving finds from the same class, hence how the Bolts now have fans believing they made a blunder by drafting Johnston.
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